Almost a week since we picked up our Yaris, so a quick review based on the first 200 miles or so.

The car replaced a smart forfour 0.9t which we had a year.

Failed major components taking ages to fix, warranty jobs not being done while Mercedes had had the car 8 weeks, missing components following a service and a main dealer and HQ operation that really didn’t care, saw us decide the best option was to devolve ourselves of the ‘problem child’!

We went back to Toyota as we had had a first generation Aygo for 5 years, which until it started letting in water like the Titanic served us well.

We also considered Mazda 2 – more expensive and local dealer not the best.

Suzuki Swift – similar price to Toyota, but shorter warranty.

Seeing cars get ever more technology and systems which don’t really benefit the owner, I am actually appreciating this car for what it doesn’t have. Despite it being a facelifted 2017 model, Toyota hasn’t stacked it with lots of unnecessary kit.

No electronic handbrake

No more can of gloop and compressor – a skinny spare sits under the boot floor

No stop start system

No complicated touchscreens for essential operations – just the radio and Bluetooth operations

No rubber band tyres

No turbo systems to go wrong

Despite this it does have an excellent spec for what is the entry level 1.5 model. There is a more basic model, but it only has the 1.0 engine.

1.5 delivering 110bhp – very nippy, with a very flexible third gear, which like the Aygo is good from 15mph to in excess of UK limit.

6 speed gearbox – no notchiness and the clutch is very light.

Cruise control

Aircon

Auto wipers

Reversing camera

Advanced safety systems using the ‘eyesight’ type technology – emergency braking, lane departure warning and road speed limit sign recognition, auto full beam system (but no auto lights!). Despite having them I turned them all off.

DAB radio

Excellent mpg – early days, but so far it looks like 45 around town, 50 on motorway. I have no reason to doubt it will get 60mpg on a decent cross country run.

Seats are very comfortable and rear legroom is very generous for a small car.

Lots of boot space which is nice and deep. A false floor is available but we won’t find one necessary.

Single wiper with washer jet attached so it sprays along the wiper for the whole sweep. It’s a system which works really well.

The speed sign recognition is largely a waste of time as it relies on the road being signed correctly and signs being positioned so the camera can see them. It also picks up signs on side streets if they are angled slightly. I'm sure the M1 isn't really a 20mph zone!

Other than that its well bolted together and if the Aygo is anything to go by should prove far more reliable than the smart.